The UK government has decided to postpone finalizing a deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius until the incoming Trump administration has a chance to review it. The agreement faced opposition from Trump and his supporters who raised concerns about its potential impact on US national security.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that the UK government would postpone finalizing a sovereignty deal for the Chagos Islands with Mauritius until President-elect Donald Trump 's administration has a chance to review it. Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius have been ongoing over the past few months to settle the archipelago's future. However, the agreement faced opposition from Trump and his supporters who contended that it posed a threat to U.S.
national security. Trump's designated secretary of state, Marco Rubio, expressed concerns about the agreement's potential impact on American interests. The Chagos Islands, particularly Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, have historically served as a crucial military base for the U.S. military, supporting operations in various conflicts, including Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The base has also been implicated in controversial clandestine rendition flights of suspected terrorists in 2008. The British spokesperson emphasized that it was appropriate for the incoming U.S. administration to evaluate the deal and that discussions with them would be forthcoming. He reiterated that the UK would only proceed with an agreement that aligned with Britain's best interests and ensured national security. Recent media reports suggested that British and Mauritian officials were accelerating efforts to finalize the deal before Trump assumed office.The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius, a former British colony, in 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence. The archipelago was subsequently designated as the British Indian Ocean Territory. Mauritius has persistently challenged Britain's claim to the islands, gaining support from international bodies like the United Nations and its International Court of Justice. The UK had initially agreed to return sovereignty in a draft deal in October 2023, but the process was hindered by a change in government in Mauritius and reported disagreements regarding financial compensation for the lease of Diego Garcia airbase. A statement released by the Mauritian government on Wednesday confirmed that the Cabinet was informed about the ongoing discussions and that negotiations in London would continue
Chagos Islands Mauritius UK Donald Trump US National Security Diego Garcia British Indian Ocean Territory
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